Combination bird feeder and amusement device



Nov. 8, 1949 A. F. R. ANDERSON 2,487,087

COMBINATION B IRD FEEDER AND AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed July 17, 1946Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE COMBINATION BIRD FEEDERAND AMUSEMENT DEVICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to bird feeders and has to do particularly with adevice of that character adapted for outdoor installation.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a deviceof the character described which is adapted to attract the birds andfurnish them with entertainment while feeding, so as to provide fornovel and unusual means of enjoyment for the birds as well as for theonlockers.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device ofthe character described which has various movable parts that areactuated by the energy exerted by the birds.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of adevice of the character described which is simple in constructioncomprising only a few inexpensive parts that can be assembled easily, sothat this device can be manufactured and sold at a very reasonableprice, but which is durable and well adapted to function outdoors in allkind of weather, and which is so constructed that its operation cannotcause any injury to the birds.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention havebeen shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line l4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

In the drawing the numeral l denotes a base bar to which the middleportion of a stationary cross bar 6 is secured by means of a nail I(Fig.

3) or the like. A pair of longitudinal pins 2 extend upwardly from thebase I at both sides of the bar 6. The upper portions 3 of the pins 2are widened and provided with perforations which afiord ample space forextending a crosspin 5 therethrough. I prefer to make the diameter ofthe portions 3 considerably larger than the diameter of the pin 5 forthe purpose of preventing a rusting together of the parts 3 and 5, sothat the pin 5 always can be moved easily without requiring anylubrication or other attention. The cross pin 5 is extended through themiddle portion of a balanced rod 4 which is provided at its extremitieswith hooks It and I5 and at its lower side with lugs Ill. The bar 6 isshorter than the rod 4 and has at its extremities hooks 8 which areconnected to the lugs it] by means of springs 9. The latter are adaptedto hold the rod 4 normally in a horizontal position.

From the hook I I there is suspended a feeding cup or pail [3 by meansof an arch-shaped supporting member l2. A mirror 14 is secured to thepail l3 by any suitable means in such a manner that it stands upright,so that a bird flying to- Ward the pail l3 or resting on the rim of thepail it can see itself in the mirror M. It can readily be seen that themirror I4 acts as a means to cause the bird to momentarily remove itsweight from the rim of the pail l3, so that it can fight or make love toits image in the mirror, thus causing the balance rod 4 to operate, upor down, according to whether the bird flies at the disturbing likenessin the mirror, or resumes its position on the edge of the feeding cupI3.

From the hook l5 there is suspended a twisted string [6 which isattached to the supporting member ll of a feeding basket or pail l8. Aswivel link member (not shown) may or may not be interposed between thestring l6 and the member ll. A roosting stick it is preferably securedto the rim of the pail l8, and a cylindrical shield 20 is laid aroundthe major portion of the string i6 and is attached thereto by anysuitable means (not shown) in order to protect birds from injury fromthe string I5, which is practically invisible for a bird flying towardthe pail it. The arrangement of the parts It to 20 as shown constitutesa bird amusing and feeding device which I call a bird spinner.

In this device a bird alighting on the roost ill will cause the pail l8to rotate. Where noswivel is used the rotation of the pail will causestring [6 to wind itself up and as a result there will be a continuationof winding and unwinding.

At the same time my new and improved bird feeding device will act as abird see saw due to the arrangement of the parts 2 to It previouslyreferred to. The rod 4 is cushioned against too violent movement by thesprings 9 which are attached to the bar 6. This permits the balance rod4 to move gently as soon as a bird or birds alight on feeding pails orany part of the rod 4, permitting them to experience a see saw motionwhile they are feeding or resting on the device.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and differentembodiments of the invention may be made Without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as amatter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bird feeding device comprising a balanced rod pivotally supportedin the middle and having a hook extended from each of its extremities, astationary bar disposed parallel, in spaced relation to said rod andresilient means interposed between said bar and said rod tending to holdthe latter in a horizontal position, a feeding pail being attached toone of said hooks, a mirror being secured to said feeding pail, atwisted string being suspended from the other hook, a second feedingpail being attached to the lower end of said string, and a cylinderattached to said string and encompassing a portion of the same, allsubstantially as set forth.

2. A device of the character described comprising a balanced rod havingextended through its middle portion a cross pin whose ends protrude fromopposite sides, a pair of lugs engaging the protruding portions of saidpin, a stationary member beneath said rod carrying said lugs, resilientmeans connecting said stationary member to said rod and tending to holdsaid rod in a horizontal position, a feeding pail being hooked to oneextremity of said rod, an upright mirror being secured to said pail, atwisted string suspended from the other extremity of said rod, a secondfeeding pail being attached to the lower end of said string, and acylindrical shield encompassing a portion of said string and beingsecured thereto, all substantially as described.

3. A-deviceof the character described comprising a stationary base, ahorizontal cross bar having its middle portion secured to said base, alongitudinal vertical pin whose upper portion is widened and perforatedbeing upwardly extended from said base at each side of said bar, abalance rod having hooks at its extremities and being provided with"lugs which are in spaced relation to said hooks, a cross pin extendedthrough the middle portion of said rod engaging the perforated widenedportions of the vertical pins, a pair of springs each of which connectsone extremity of said bar to a lug on said rod, azfeeding pail beinghooked to one extremity of said rod, an upright mirror being secured tosaid pail, :a twisted string suspended from the-otherextremity of saidrod, a second pail being attached to the lower end of said string, and acylinder encompasing a portion of said string being .secured to thelatter, all substantially as described.

ALFRED FITZ ROY ANDERSGN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 1,498,220 Winkler June 17, 19241,673,758 Partlow June '12, 1928 2,277,420 Stanfield Mar. 24, 1942FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 197,039 Great Britain May 8, 1923

